Timing and signaling apparatus



April 20, 1937. P. E. GUMM 2,078,135

TIMING AND SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. FIG. 2.

/ CM /M INVENTOR.

F EFF-H E. ElLLTTLTTL ATTORNEYS.

April 20, 1937. E U 2,078,136

TIMING AND SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed July 51, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 10. FIG. 11.

INVENTOR.

Fal zl EL. Enumm W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to time controlling mechanism and more particularly to mechanism for measuring service or accommodation in terms of elapsed time and requiring prepayment for such service or accommodation. A specific use of the invention is in connection with parked vehicles, for indicating the prepayment for the time such vehicles are parked and indicating if such prepayment has not been made and Whether or not the time for which said prepayment has been made has expired.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a time controlling mechanism dls= pensing with the use of clockwork, springs, complicated parts and parts particularly liable to damage by tampering and jarring as well as extreme changes in temperature.

Another important object is to provide a quickacting resetting mechanism, so that the apparatus may be in condition to measure the parking time of one vehicle after another in rapid succession.

Still another object is to provide a parking meter which will indicate for how much time the vehicle has been parked, how much time, of a time limit, remains and, when such limit has expired, 'will indicate overtime parking.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course oi'the following description, taken in connection with the ac= companying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the major operating portions 01 the novel mechanism.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through portions of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through the major operating portions of the novel mechanism.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the portion shown in Figure 3, the mechanism being set to commence operation, a fragment beingbroken away to better illustrate a portion oi the corn struction.

Figure 5 is a section upon substantially the line 5-5 of Figure 3, a small section of the signal mechanism being omitted so as to better show other portions of the mechanism directly below the signal mechanism.

Figure 6 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 4, but with the time limit of operation of the mechanism expired.

Figure -'7 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the major operating mechanism.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragment substantially 5 upon the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a fragment of a replaceable indicia carrying member forming a portion of the construction of the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of an enclosure 10 housing the novel mechanism.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the enclosure shown in Figure 10.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of 15 the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may designate the entire assembly, illustrated as a vehicle parking meter, including the time-controlling mechanism B, means C for resetting said mechanism, check-controlling means l), and an enclosure E for A, E, C and D.

As stated, the entire assembly is embodied, for illustration, in a vehicle parking meter, with which the time-controlling mechanism E is particularly adapted for association.

This mechanism '5 includes a housing 06, comprising like, substantially paralleling, elongated side walls iii, substantially like, elongated end. walls ll, joining the side walls, a top or upper wall i8, and a bottom or lower wall it, both joining the side and end walls. The end wall ll may be arcuate, as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

As for the housing itself, it preferably term prises two sections or portions, an upper one fill and a lower one 2 l suitably detachably secured together, as by latches 22, and provided with means to afford a tight seal, such as a washer or gasket or the like, disposed upon a shoulder 2 5 at the open end of the portion 26. If desired, the upper portion 2t may be provided with an inlet open ing 25 extending through the axial center of the wall ill, this opening having a suitable closure 2t. Preferably, this portion iii also carries a substantially funnel-shaped partition all which may extend from one end wall ll but fall short of the opposite end wall ll, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 5, and joining a portion of the side walls it. This partition El has a depression or sloping surface 33 sloping towards the center of the partition and downwardly from its upper face. I'lrom the center of this depression extends a relatively small opening or outlet 23 which is adapted to receive a suitable nozzle 36,

the opening therethrough being of a desired size. Preferably. the nozzle 30 is detachable so that any selected nozzle, having an opening of a desired diameter, may be employed.

Preferably, from the point where the partition 3'! ends there extends upwardly, or longitudinally of the housing II, a second partition 3|. This partition 3i falls short of the top wall l6, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3, and as shown particularly in Figure 1 it will be seen that the partition 3i faces the end walls l1 and in Figure 5 that this partition Joins the side walls It. Consequently, there are provided two openings leading into the upper portion of the funnelshaped partition 21,-an opening 32 between one end wall I! and the partition 3i and an opening 33 between the upper end of the partition 3| and the top wall IS, with a by-pass or passageway 34 extending from the opening 32 to the opening 33.

It should be noted that the axis of the opening 23 in the funnel-shaped partition 21 extends along thelongitudinal axis of the housing I 5, that the passageway 34 and the openings 32 and 33 are substantial ones, and that one end wall l1, portions of the side walls I6, the partition 21 and the partition 3| define a substantial receptacle or bin 35, for a purpose later described.

The lower portion fl is preferably provided with a pair of opposite substantially U-shaped openings 36 extending from the open end of this portion into the walls l6. Each opening is preferably disposed an equal distance from the end walls l1 and provide openings for a portion of the mechanism to be next described.

Extending through each opening 36 is a like shaft 31. These shafts 31, as may be seen in Figure 8, are somewhat ovoid in cross section and extending outwardly from each shaft is a substantially cylindrical portion 38, reduced in diameter, and terminating preferably in a squared end. Carried by each-squared end is a suitable index or pointer 39. The two shafts are Joined by a substantially U-shaped portion 40 which may be suitably detachably secured thereto, as by nuts. Carried by each arm of the U-shaped portion 40 is a suitable counterweight 4i, preferably having a bore accommodating the said arm of the U-shaped portion 40, for sliding engagement but provided with a suitable means for detachably securing the counterweight 4| to fixed positions along the arm.

as to provide for the elimination of as much friction as possible, each cylindrical portion 36 of the shaft is disposed upon the periphery of a pair of overlapping revolving discs 42, as is well known in the art.

Swingingly supported by the shafts 31 is a basket or receptacle 43, spaced from the inner faces of the side and end walls l6 and I1 and bottom wall I 9. This receptacle 43 has an upwardly opening mouth, with the axis of the outlet 23 substantially intersecting the axial center of this mouth. Any suitable flexible means 44 may be provided to suspend the receptacle 43 from the shafts 31. For instance, a section of small link chain has been found desirable for this purpose, a separate length of the chain extending from opposite sides of the receptacle 43 over the shafts 31, substantially as shown in Figures 3, .7 and 8,

aovarso and secured to the shafts 31 in any approved way. The reason for'the ovoid cross section of the shafts is so that as the shafts, carrying the counterweights 4i, are not rotated and the chains 44 unwind, the distance of the chains from their points of contact with the shafts to the axes of the shafts will gradually increase, as is apparent, thus compensating for the increased or decreased pull of gravitation upon the ascending or descending counterweights 4i. Extending across the receptacle 43, is a rod 45 which is adapted to limit the extent the counterweights 4i may travel in one direction. Projecting from one of the end walls i1 is an upwardly and inwardly extending stop 46, a

which limits the extent the counterweight may travel in the opposite direction, and the side walls of the receptacle 43 are continued upwardly as arms 46-, these having flat upper ends which abut the partition 2! when the mechanism is upside down and prevent rocking of the receptacle.

Adapted to slide upon the outer face of each side wall i6, is a combined shutter and indiciacarrying member 4 Preferably, these members 41 comprise a flat plate, having arcuate top and bottom edges 46 and 49, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, and provided with slots 50, adjacent the opposite end edges 5|. These slots .50 preferably extend from closely adjacent the top edges 48 to adjacent the bottom edges 49. Substantially midway the end edges 5|, the shutter 41 is provided with an inverted U-shaped opening 52, extending from the bottom edge 46 to short of the top edge 43. It will be noted that close to the mouth of the opening 52, there is provided an inwardly extending shoulder 53. The indicia is disposed upon the outer face of each shutter and, preferably, comprises graduations 54, indicating the divisions of an interval of time, such as the twelve five-minute intervals making up an hour. Extending through the slots 50 are suitable pins 55 so that the shutter 41 will travel in a well defined path.

Pivotally carried by each side wall I6 is a trigger or dog 56 having, preferably, a curved upper end 51, normally in contact with the shoulders 53 when the pins 55 are at the lower ends of the slots 50,.as shown in Figure 4. The pivot 56 of the dog 56 is intermediate its ends and substantially upon the longitudinal medial line of the side walls l6. The lower end 59 of the dog 56 may be bent, firstly at substantially a right angle and along the faces of the side walls It, then forwardly, and then downwardly so that, in the position when the dog is substantially vertical and the end 51 abuts the shoulder 53, the end 59 will be spaced from the preferably enlarged end 60 of the pointer or index 39, but when the index travels in an arc, at the extremity of its travel, the enlarged end 60 will contact the bent end 53 of the dog 56 and will trip the dog 56 so that the curved upper end 51 will be disengaged from the shoulder 53, allowing the shutter 41 to drop with the end 51 entering the opening 52, as is illustrated in Figure 6. So as to cause the curved end 51 of the dogs 56 to r-eengage the shoulders 53 at the proper time, a small spring 60 is provided for each dog 56, bearing thereagainst. Travel of each dog in the opposite direction is limited, preferably by a suitable stop 6 I, as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

It will be noted that, preferably, the indicia upon the shutter comprises only the graduations 54. A separate member 62 is provided containing corresponding graduations 63 and other indicia 6 to be employed in cooperation with the graduations 54 and will be described later.

When. the indicia-carrying member and shutter 41 drops as described, it is preferred that it reveal a suitably colored background. Preferably, this background is comprised of two red colored areas 65, provided for a purpose later set out in detail.

Enclosed in the entire housing heretofore described, but not the member 62, is a suitable container 10. This may have somewhat the same contour as the housing IE but is larger, so that the housing l will be spaced from the walls of the container 10. The container ill may be wholly or partly of glass or other suitable material. It may have a closure ii of similar or different material, suitably secured in place in any approved means and provided with a washer or other means to seal its interior from the exterior. In fact, it is desired to exhaust as much air as possible from the container W after the housing i5 is in place and space the housing l5 from the top and bottom of the container by suitable heat and cold insulator 12. Two of the members 62 heretofore described and illustrated in fragment in Figure 9, are provided and are preferably of transparent material. These may be affixed, however, by transparent cement or the like, to the exterior or interior of the container 10, with their graduations 63 in alignment with the graduations 54 upon the shutter M. it will be noted that the outer face of the bottom wall of the container 10 is hollowed out providing a centrally disposed recess 13 for a purpose later set out in detail.

Extending about the container "It may be provided a suitable band M in tight engagement With the outer face of the container and from diametrically opposite sides of this band may be spindles l5 and 16. One spindle is may extend through a suitable opening in an upwardly extending arm ll of a base member it, which base member may also carry a suitable catch it, nor-- I mally urged upwardly by a coil spring it. This current or the like.

catch enters the recess 13 and yieldably holds the container in an upright position, as will be more fully described later.

As means for actually operating the time con trolling mechanism, it is preferred to employ fine, sharp, clean and dry sand or other granu= lar material 8!, altho other than silicon dioxide may be employed, just so the qualities desired for the sand are inherent in them.

Means C for resetting the mechanism 18 preferably includes a relatively large gear at suitably keyed to one of the spindles-preferably the spindle 16, and cooperating with a smaller gear 9!! which is operatively connected with a conventional speed reducing 'mechanism 92 which, in turn, is operated by any suitable means, such as an electric motor 93, current being supplied by one or more dry cells, wet batteries, city In the example shown, a

relatively large dry cell 94 supplies the necessary current, to suitable conductors or leads 95 and 96. It is obvious that other means may be provided to reset the mechanism B, but the means just described has been found practical and etficient.

With the means just described, a conventional check controlled means D may be provided, such as including a coin chute 600 opening at one end in a slot HH and extending to a pivoted platform I02 carrying a suitable contact point W3 adapted to normally extend towards but free of a mercury containing cup 604, the mercury of which is electrically connectedwith the conductor 95. Any suitable meansmay be provided to temporarily arrest the passage of a coin or check through the chute no, so that the coin will come to rest upon the platform I02 and its weight will depress the platform Hi2 so that the contact point i193 will enter the mercury and close an electric circuit between the dry cell 94 and the motor energizing the latter and causing operation of the speed reduction mechanism Q2, rotation of the gears M and 90, rotation of the spindles l5 and turning of the band H and, consequently, an end for and rotation of the container "l6 and housing it. It is now apparent that. with a suitable volume of sand or other granular material ill in the housing i5, this sand will flow, if it be in the lower portion 28 of the housing it, from this lower portion 29 through the opening 32, passageway 34 and opening ill-3 into the bin 35 as the resetting mechanism operates to turn the major portions of the time controlling mechanism B end for end. Thisfiow of the sand will be relatively rapid due to the large by-pass provided by the opening 32, passageway 3d and opening 33. With the sand in the bin 3%, it will commence slowly flowing, when the housing it is upright, with the top wall it uppermost, through the funnel opening 29 and drop into the basket as and gradually it will accumulate therein so that the basket will slowly sink. This will cause gradual unwinding of the chain it from over the shafts 3i, and gradual rotation of these shafts. This rotation of the shafts will cause gradual travel of the indices 39 over the faces of the shutters ll. When the indices have traveled a sufiicient distance, their enlarged ends will cause operation of the dogs 55 and dropping of the shutters 417, as has been described. As the shutters drop, the red backgrounds 55 will be revealed. providing a signal that the time limit, for which prepayment for parking time has been made, has expired. As the gear til rotates. a suitable pin lilii disposed upon the gear 96, will contact the means for temporarily arresting passage of the coin or check as described. This means may be a catch Wt extending partly into the chute l0!) and the contact of the pin lllti with the catch ltd will cause the latter to temporarily recede from the chute passageway and allow the coin to resume its passage through the chute Hill. If desired, the chute itlll may have a glass covered opening Mill and a second catch iilii, preferably similar to the catch it'd, just below the opening lt'i, so that the passage oi the coin or check is temporarily arrested for a second time and its presence will be revealed by a view of it through the opening Bill. The coin or check will be held in view, as described, until the next coin is deposited ior, as the gear is rotated by the contact made by the second coin, the same pin m5 will temporarily withdraw the catch from the passageway through the chute will and the first coin will continue through the chute to a suitable coin receptacle Hi9. As the pin Hi5 releases the catches tilt and its, these catches will reenter the passageway through the chute in readiness to temporarily arrest the passage of the next coin or check. It is preferred that the pin W5, carried by the gear @(t, be positioned between the catch Hi6 and tilt when the gear 9% comes to rest. Consequently, it will first trip the catch 908 as the gear iiii commences to revolve, carrying the coin controlling mechanism with it, then trip the catch i053 and releasing the coin or check so that the platform I 42 will rise and electrical contact will be broken thus stopping the motor and, consequently, further movement of the time controlling mechanism in its end for end travel.

Assuming that the shutter 41 has dropped. as the housing I! is turned end for end, gravity will cause the shutter 41 to travel towards the top wall II, when this wall is temporarily lowermost, and allow the curved end 41 of the trigger or dog 56 to reengage the shoulder II of the shutter 41 so that, when the housing again assumes its upright position, the shutter will cover the red backgrounds, and the graduations upon the shutter and the transparent member 52 will coincide, as stated.

The tension 01 the spring 40 about the catch 19 and the shape of the recess 13 are such that the starting of the motor and consequent rotation of the time controlling mechanism will permit the surface of the recess 18 to slide over the end of the catch 19, depressing the spring 80, but when further operation 01' the motor is discontinued, as has been stated, the catch 19, urged by the spring 80, will be sufli'clent, when the catch reenters the recess II, to hold the time controlling mechanism in its upright position.

The enclosure E i'orA, B, C and D, may have a pair of suitable side walls ill) and ill, one preferably hinged as H2, and provided with a suitable lock H3, end wall H4 Joining the side walls l| and a screw threaded collar H! extending from the lower portions oi. these walls. Each side wall H0 and ill may have a suitable arcuate opening I I6 covered by a transparency Ill, such as glass, these openings coinciding with the shutters 41 when the latter are in their raised positions and the housing i is disposed with the top wall i8 uppermost. One wall Iii may also have an opening H8 coinciding with the coin view opening llll in the chute I00, and

a second bearing I for the spindle 16, this bearing opening from the inner face of the wall Ill. An end wall H4 may also have a coin slot iill communicating with the chute I00. This slot l0! may be provided with a conventional rain and dust shield Hi.

The assembly thus described may be carried upon a suitable hollow pedestal ill which preterably screws into the collar I It at its upper end and extends from a suitable base I22. This base may be firmly secured to any foundation, such as pavement, curbing, etc.

From the foregoing it is apparent that an apparatus is provided which is free from clock work, such as springs, ratchets, and other devices liable to get out of order and be seriously affected by heat and cold as well as jolting and shock otherwise incurred. The operating means is sand, or a similar granular substance, the sand being inexpensive and not subject to changes due to temperature. Unlike some check-controlled, time-controlling mechanisms, the apparatus herein described will not operate to extend the parking time by quickly depositing a second coin right after the deposition of a first coin, for the first coin will act to cause one complete end for end revolution of the time controlling mechanism, whereupon the first coin will travel to the sight opening and the second coin will immediately cause a second end for end revolution of the time-controlling mechanism before the time-controlling mechanism has had an opportunity to actually function. The person parking a vehicle and prepaying tor the parking interval. will know at all times how much time he has remaining by observing the position of either or the indices, and the dropping of the shutter will immediately indicate that this time limit has wholly expired.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a time-controlling mechanism, an elongated housing including top and bottom walls and a partition dividing the interior of said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition being provided with a depression extending towards said bottom wall and an opening therethrough at substantially the lowermost portion of said depression, said housing having a by-pass extending from one oi. said chambers to the other chamber, and time-indicating means carried by said housing, including a rotating member, a receptacle, having an upwardly opening mouth, disposed in said lower chamber with the axis of said opening extending into said mouth and flexible means suspending said receptacle from said rotating member with said receptacle spaced from said bottom wall.

2. In a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such as sand,

- an elongated housing including top and bottom walls, upper and lower chambers, and provided with a bin having a mouth opening towards said top wall and into said upper chamber, said bin having a bottom wall with a depression in said bottom wall and a granular material flow opening through said wall at said depression, said opening communicating between said bin and said lower chamber, said housing having a by-pass extending from one of said chambers to the other, and time-indicating means carried by said housing, including a rotating member, a receptacle, having an upwardly opening mouth, disposed in said lower chamber with the axis oi said opening extending into said mouth, and flexible means suspending said receptacle from said rotating member with said receptacle spaced from said bottom wall.

3. In a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such as sand, an elongated housing including top and bottom walls, upper and lower chambers, and provided with a bin having a mouth opening towards said top wall and into said upper chamber, said bin having a bottom wall with a depression in said bottom wall and a granular material flow opening through said wall at saiddepression, said opening communicating between said bin and said lower chamber, said opening being of a size whereby said granular material will flow therethrough in a fine stream, said housing having a by-pass extending from one of said chambers to the other, and time-indicating means carried by said housing. including a rotating member, a receptacle, having an upwardly opening mouth, disposed in said lower chamber with the axis of said opening extending into said mouth, and flexible means suspending said receptacle Irom said rotating member with said receptacle spaced from said bottom wall. l

4. In a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such as sand. an elongated housing including top and bottom walls, upper and lower chambers, and provided with a bin having a mouth opening towards said top wall and into said upper chamber, said bin having a depression in its bottom wall and a granular material flow opening through said wall at said depression communicating between said bin and said lower chamber, said opening being of a size whereby said granular material will flow therethrough in a fine stream, said housing having a by-pass extending from one of said chambers to the other, and time-indicating means carried by said housing and operated by said granular material flowing through said opening.

5. In a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such as sand, a housing including top and bottom walls and elongated side and end walls, a partition extending partly across said housing intermediate said top and bottom walls, said partition having a depression extending towards said bottom wall and a small-dlametered opening at substantially the lowermost portion of said depression, a secand partition extending from said first partition upwardly towards said top wall and falling short thereof, said second partition joining two walls of said housing and spaced from the other walls thereof and index operating means carried by said housing, including a shaft rotatably supported thereby, an open container with its mouth intersected by the axis. of said opening, a length of flexible material wound over said shaft and suspending said container therefrom spaced from said bottom wall and an index carried by said shaft.

6. In a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such as sand, a housing including top and bottom walls and elongated side and end walls, a partition extending partly across said housing intermediate said top and bottom walls, said partition having a depression extending towards said bottom wall and. a small-diametered opening at substantially the lowermost portion of said depression, a second partition extending from said first partition upwardly towards said top wall and falling short thereof, said second partition joining two walls of said housing and spaced from the other walls thereof, index operating means carried by said housing, including a shaft rotatably supported thereby, an open container with its mouth intersected by the axis of said opening, a length of flexible material wound over said shaft and suspending said container therefrom spaced from said bottom wall and an index carried by said shaft, and means to rotate said housing upon a.

transverse axis thereof.

7. in a time-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by granular material, such sand, a housing including top and bottom walls and elongated side and end walls, a partition extending partly across said housing intermediate said top and bottom walls, said partition having a depression extending towards said bottom wall and a small-diametered opening at substantially the lowermost portion of said depression, a second partition extending from said first named part1 tion upwardly towards said top wall and tailing short thereof, said second partition joining two walls of said housing and spaced from the other walls thereof, said opening in said first named partition being of a size whereby said granular material will flow therefrom in a fine stream, time-indicating means carried by said housing and operated by said granular material flowing through said opening, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof.

8. in a vehicle parking meter, timing means in cluding granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material, said housing having a transversely disposed partition dividing said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition having a sloping surface extending towards said lower chamber and an. opening at the lowermost portion of said sloping surface, said opening communicating between said upper and lower chambers and being of a diameter whereby granular material will flow therethrough into said lower chamber in a fine stream, a rotatable member in said lower cham ber and extending through the wall of said hous ing, a receptacle in said lower chamber, a flexible element secured to said receptacle and extending over said rotatable member and secured thereto, the length of said element and the size of said receptacle being such that said receptacle normally will be free of the walls of said housing, the axis oi said opening extending into the mouth of said receptacle, timing indicia disposed upon the outer wall of said housing an index secured to said rotatable member at the portion thereof exterior oi said housing, said index being positioned so as to point to said indicia.

9. in a vehicle parking meter, the combination oi timing means, including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material, said housing having a transversely disposed partition dividing said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition having a sloping surface extending towards said lower chamber and an opening at the lowermost portion of said sloping surface, said opening corninunicating between said upper and lower chambers and being oi? a diameter whereby granular material will flow therethrough into said lower chamber in a fine stream, a lay-pass for said. granular material extending from one of said chambers to the other and past said partition, a rotatable member in said lower chamber and extending through the wall oi said housing, a receptacle in said lower chamber, a flexible element secured to said receptacle and extending over said rotatable member and secured thereto, the length of said element and the size of said receptacle being such that said receptacle normally will be free or? the walls oi said housing, the axis oi said opening extending into the mouth of said re ceptacle, timing indicia disposed upon the outer wall oi said housing and an index secured to said rotatable member at the portion thereof exterior of said housing, said index being positioned so as to point to said indicia, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof, whereby granular material in said receptacle will flow through said by-pass into said upper chamber and be disposed upon the sloping surface of said partition.

10. In vehicle parking meter, the combination or timing means, including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material, said housing having a transversely disposed partition dividing said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition having a sloping surface extending towards said lower chamber and an opening at the lowermost portion or? said sloping surface, said opening com municating between said upper and lower chambers and being of a diameter whereby granular material will flow therethrough into said lower chamber in a fine stream, a icy-pass for said granular material extending from one of said chambers to the other and past said partition, the diameter oi said by-pass being greatly in excess oi. the diameter of said opening, a rotatable memher in said lower chamber and extending through the wall of said housing, a receptacle in said lower chamber, a flexible element secured to said receptacle and extending over said rotatable member and secured thereto, the length of said element and the size of said receptacle being such that said receptacle will be free of the walls of said housing, the axis of said opening extending into the mouth of said receptacle, timing indicia disposed upon the outer wall of said housing and an index secured to said rotatable member at the portion thereof exterior of said housing, said index being positioned so as to point to said indicia, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof, whereby granular material in said receptacle will flow through said bypass into said upper chamber and be disposed upon the sloping surface of said partition.

11. In a vehicle parking meter, the combination of timing means including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material, said housing having a transverse partition dividing said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition having a sloping surface extending towards said lower chamber and an opening at the lowermost portion of said sloping surface, said opening communicating between said upper chamber and said lower chamber, a by-pass for said granular material extending from said lower chamber to said upper chamber and past said partition, a rotatable member in said lower chamber and extending through the wall of said housing, a receptacle in said lower chamber, a flexible ele-- ment secured to said receptacle and extending over said rotatable member and secured thereto, the length of said element and the size of said receptacle being such that said receptacle normally will be free of the walls of said housing, the axis of said opening extending into the mouth of said receptacle, a shutter slidable longltudinally over the exterior surface of the wall of said housing, said shutter being provided with timing indicia disposed upon its outer surface, an index secured to said rotatable member at the portion thereof exterior of said housing, said index being positioned so as to point to said indicia upon said shutters, a latch pivoted to the exterior of said housing below said shutter and normally latching said shutter in an upper position, the lower end of said latch being out of tripping contact with said index when said shutter is latched in said upper position and in tripping contact with said index when said index is in another position, whereby said latch will unlatch said shutter and permit it to drop by gravity, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof whereby said granular material will flow from said lower chamber through said by-pass into said upper chamber and be deposited upon said sloping surface and said shutter will slide longitudinally over the exterior surface of said housing wall into a position to be again latched by said latch.

12. In a vehicle parking meter, the combination of timing means including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material, said housing having a transverse partition dividingsaid housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said partition having a sloping surface extending towards said lower chamber and an opening at the lowermost portion of said sloping surface, said opening communicating between said upper chamber and said lower chamber, a by-pass for said granular material extending from said lower chamber to said upper chamber and past said partition, a rotatable member in said lower chamber and extending through the wall of said housing, a receptacle in said lower chamber, a flexible element secured to said receptacle and extending over said rotatable member and secured thereto, the length of said element and the size of said receptacle being such that said receptacle normally will be free of the walls of said housing, the axis of said opening extending into the mouth of said receptacle, a shutter slidable longitudinally over the exterior surface of the wall of said housing, said shutter being provided with timing indicia disposed upon its outer surface, an index secured to said rotatable member at the portion thereof exterior of said housing, said index being positioned so as to point to said indicia upon said shutter, a latch pivoted to the exterior of said housing below said shutter and normally latching said shutter in an upper position, 'the lower end of said latch being out of tripping contact with said index when said shutter is latched in said upper position and in tripping contact with said index when said index is in another position, whereby said latch will unlatch said shutter and permit it to drop by gravity, indicia disposed upon and exterior face of said housing and concealed by said shutter when said shutter is in said upper position, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof whereby said granular material will flow from said lower chamber through said by-pass into said upper chamber and be deposited upon said sloping surface and said shutter will slide longitudinally over the exterior surface of said housing wall into a position to be again latched by said latch and conceal said last named indicia.

13. In a vehicle parking meter, the combination of timing mechanism including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material and having a top wall, a bottom wall, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a bin in said upper chamber having a mouth facing said top wall and a small vent opening into said lower chamber, whereby granular material in said bin will be-discharged from said vent in a fine stream, said housing having a bypass extending from said lower chamber to said upper chamber and past said bin, a receptacle, having a mouth, disposed in said lower chamber with the axis of said vent extending through said mouth, a shaft rotatably carried by said housing, said shaft being substantially ovoid in transverse cross section, flexible means suspending said receptacle from said shaft and free of said bottom wall, with a portion of said means disposed upon a portion of the ovoid periphery of said shaft, a counterweight for said receptacle carried by said shaft and an index operativeiy connected with said shaft, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof, whereby granular material in said receptacle will flow through said by-pass into said ripper chamber and into said bin.

14. In a vehicle parking meter, the combination of timing mechanism including granular material, an elongated housing enclosing said granular material and having a top wall, a bottom wall, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a bin in said upper chamber having a mouth facing said top wall and a small vent opening into said lower chamber whereby granular material in said bin will be discharged from said vent in a fine stream, said housing having a by-pass extending from said lower chamber to posite direction,

movement of said counterweight in one direction carried by said housing, a stop for limiting the movement of said counterweight in the opcarried by said receptacle and an index operatively connected with said shaft, and means to rotate said housing upon a transverse axis thereof, whereby granular material in said receptacle will flow through said by-pass into said upper chamber and into said bin.

PERCY E. GUMM. 

